Track-laying machine.



No. 887,607. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908.

G. E. DRUMMOND.

TRACK LAYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00126. 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W01 tn wins:

No. 887,607 PATENTED'MAY 12, 1908.

O. E. DRUMMOND. I TRACK LAYING'MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 26, 1007.

5ISHEETSSHEET a.

N0. 88?;607. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. 0. E. DRUMMOND. 'TRAOK LAYING MACHINE. APPLIQATION FILED 0GT.26.190 7.

s SHEETS-SHEET 4.

w. e u w 219i in cases No.887,607. I I PATEN TED MAY12,1908.

I 0. E, DRUM-MOND.

TRACK LAYING MACHINE. APPLIUATIONV nun 061.26. 1907'.

I a snnnws-snnm a.

-UNITED"STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. DRUMMOND, OF TWIN FALLS, IDAHO.

TRACK LAYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908.

Application filed October 26, 1907. Serial No. 399,340.

specification.

- This invention relates to track laying rnachines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a track laying device in the form of a construction train that is arranged to carry cross ties and rails, and in which-all of the ties and rails may be readily delivered at a point directly in frontof the forward car of the train, thus avoiding the unnecessary work and inconvenience usually involved in the handling of mat-anal ,fI'OIll ordinary fiat cars, where the rails and ties are usually dumped at the sides of the car and must be conveyed from thence to the point where they are to be laid.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this type wherein the forward car, as well as the following cars, is utilized as a carrier for material, thus avoiding the necessity of employing a crane or like structure for handling the material on the remaining cars.

A still further object of the invention is to i provide for the rapid conveyance of ties and rails from the rearrnost cars to the forward end of the front car with minimum labor and expense.

A further object ofthe invention is to facilitate the separate handling of the ties and rails, so that the track construction may proceed with uniformity, the ties and rails eing delivered just as rapidlyas needed and the cars advancing over the rails as fast as they are laid and spiked.

A still furtlier object of the invention is to provide the train of cars with an auxiliary track and tie carryin cars, the latter being arranged to receive oads of ties from the rearrnost cars and to travel over the tracks from car to car, and thence out over the tram t0 the dumping pointf A still further objectof the invention is to provide a dumpin tram at the delivery end of the front car, the tram being soarranged as to permit the delivery of the ties at the point approximately a rail length, that is to say, about thirty feet in advance of the lorward end of the car in a position most convenient for the workmen.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic dumping means at the extreme end 'of the train, so that when the cars reach this point the ties will be automatically shot forward and dumped on the road bed or-grade.

A still further object of the invention is to provide auxiliary ways at the opposite sides of the cars one for the handling of the ties, as before described, and the other to facilitate handling of the rails, the rails being delivered in such position that they may be readily heeled in place and the angle bars attached.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dumping tram of the character described which may be readily detached from the forward car and allowed to remain at the end of the track, while the train returns to the material yard for another load ol ties and rails;

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide an iinproved form of yieldable con nection for the auxiliary rails 05 the small tie carrying cars, for the purpose of allowing the fiat cars to yield as when. traveling on an uneven track, or in rounding curves.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter a pear, the'inven tion consists in certain novel features of con struction and arran ement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood th'at'various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of -the structure may be made without departing from the s irit or sacrificing any of the advanta es o the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view or a trackllaying apparatus constructed in accordance. with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a side,

elevation of the front car. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the front end of the tram, showing the dumping mechanism. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the dumping operation. Fig.

- spective view of one of the rail'dollies.

' for the workmen.

vation of the yieldable rail joint Fi 10 is a sectional elevation showing a yielda lerail joint of modifiedconstriietion, as used at the end of each car; Fig. 11 is a. detail per- Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of one of therail dollies. Fi 13 is a perspective detail view of one of the rail supporting slide plates.

Similar numerals of referenc are em ployed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the l rawiugs.

in carrying out the invention, eight ordinary flat cars are preferably employed, this number having been found most convenient in practice, although the number of cars may be varied to any extent.

011 top of the cars are secured crossbeams 10 which project beyond the sides of the car,

referably for about twelve inches, more or li ss, and to the lower faces of these beams are secured planks 11, so that the width of the car is approximately two feet greater than that of the standard flat car. In a train now constructed and in use, it has been found convenient to employ three forward ears similar to A and B for the carrying of rails, and five rear cars; such as C, for the carrying of cross tics, only one of these rear cars being illustrated in the present instance. The cross beams 10 may be attached in any suitablemanner and serve to give greater width for the loading of track material, and they may be readily removed when neces sary. so that the car may be used for ordinary purposes;

On the right hand side of the cars are secured rails 15, preferably to form a track of about fourteen inches gage, and between these are laid planks 16 to form a foot way gethe and separate from the jolting of the train, and there is more or less independ ent movement of the ears due to unevenness of the track and in rounding curves, it becomes necessary to form yieldable joints for the auxiliary rails at points between the ears, and for this purpose small rail sections 17 are placed at these .oints, these rail sections being held in place liy lish plates 18 that are attached at one end by single bolts 19, the bolts forming loose pivots which will readily permit both vertical and horizontal play. In order to compensate for endwise movement, the track sections adjacentthe end of each car are slightly separated from each other and are connected by a sleeve 20 shaped to follow the cross sectional contour of the rail, and within which the track secge-ther or a art, so that the continuity of the rails will lie reserved without regard to movement of t e cars. Each slide rail of the yicldable track section is held in place and in a tram 30.

As the flat ears move to line with the rail of the fastened sections by means of two lates 13, best seen in Fig, 13 of the drawings. These two slide plates allow free movement of the yicldable rail endwise but firmly hold it in line with the fastened rail to which the. sleeve 20-is bolted and prevents the 'slidable or yieldable rail from binding in the sleeve when the train is moving over crooked track or rounding curves. On these rails are placed small trucks or cars 22 to the ends of the side sills 23 of which are secured cross bars 24, having upturned cnd flanges that form side guards to prevent accidental falling of the ties. Each of these cars is loaded with ties from the. rearmost tic carrying cars of the. train and it is found in practice that. five ties constitute. a. readily handled load, and are convenient both to the workmen on'the cars and the men on the roa .lbed.

At the forward end of the front car is erected a frame 17,. two of the uprights of which'are arranged on opposite sides of the small tr'ackway, the cross bar 28 at the top of the frame being of sufficient height to permit the passa e of the workmen.

In advance of the forward car is arranged This tram com rises a air of rails 31 which are connected y cross ffars 32 of such construction as to prevent movement of the rails either toward or from each other, and on these cross bars is laid a platform 33 for convenience of the workmen. The rear ends of the rails are connected to the forward ends of the rails 15 by means of suitable angle bars, and the forward end of the tram is supported by truss rods, each truss rod being formed in two sections 35 36. The lower ends of these truss rods are provided with eyes that litovcr hooks 37 projecting from the. tram. and the. car, rc-

spectivc-lv, and the truss bars 36 overhain t 1c frame 27 and are detachably connected to the rods 35, so that the tram may be readily removed from position'ainl allowed to rcnniin on the roadbed, while the flat cars return to the material yard for another load of. rails and ties. The truss rods 36 are preferably made in adjustable sections connected by suitable turn buckles 39 in order that the )OsitiOil of the tram may be adjusted with accuracy.

The forward ends of the tram rails are inclined downward as indicated at 40, and bolted across these rails is a plate 41. To this date are secured cross bars 42 against which the forward wheels of the small tic carrying trucks strike att-he ll kltll of the delivery movement. To these cross bars -12 are secured two spaced beams 43 that are. tions are free to slide as the cars move todisposcd parallel with the inclined portions -10 of the track, and these beams are connected by shafts 44 on which are mounted two freely revoluble rollers 46 and 4.7. upper surface of the roller 46 is arranged in The the same horizontal plane with the upper or load carrying surface of the truck, aswill be :evident on reference to Fig. 7, it being observed that the truck in this osition is near the end of its movement, an the tiesheing passed slightly on to the roller 46-.

As the movement of the truck continues from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7, the momentum of the ties will carry them approximately first to the dotted line )osition and then as the center of gravity 0 the load passes beyond the vr tical plane of the roller 46, the forward ends of the ties will tilt. downward to the dotted line osition b of Fig. 7, the ties then resting on tl ie two rollers 46 and Hand running by gravity over these rollers and falling to the roadbed atthe end of the tram. As before remarked, the end of the tram is pproximatelyone rail length, or thirty feet,

' 111 advance of the car, and the ties'being kelpt e about a rail length or more in advance of t car, so that there ill be no delay in the deliveryl and placing of' the rails.

For unloadingthe ties, any number of the small tie trucks may be used, and for convenience, the forward car A is provided with a siding 50, the-ends of which are connected to the main track'15 by suitable switches of any desired type, but preferably by automatic switches of such nature that returning cars from the tram will automatically enter the siding in order to allow the passage of loaded carsv on the main track, and in some instances a gasolene motor or the like ma be installed for the purpose of handlingthe tie truckaalthough for ordinary'purposes unskilled labor is foundmore convenient and 'less ex ensive. i 40 At t e left hand side of the rail cars A and B are arranged small dollies .53, these being in the form of small concaved rollers which are' mounted in rectangular metallic frames '54. On the proecting ortion of the car platform are secure small iilocks 55 of a contoured!- responding to that of the rectangular frames 54, and over which said frames fit, the opposite ends of. the blocks being. slightly recessed to receive the larger ends of the rollers; These frames may be readily placed in posi- --.%ion over the blocks, and require no further asten'ings, being held in placeby their own weight and the weight ofthefralls which ass (over them to the oint of delivery. hen the cars are to he oaded, these dollies may be readilv lifted off the block and thrown to one side. I

Extending forward of the endmost dolly is a small metal chute 56, and as the rails are moved forward'over the dollies, the end of the rail will project ast' the forward endlof ihe car in position to e grasped by the front men of the steel gang. on theroad bed, and as these men draw the rail forward, its rear end it will strike against and 'slide down the chute forward end ofthe trackway tram is moved forward a rail length into 'posi- 5 .tion for laying another length of rails.

As before pointed out, one of the principal advantages of the apparatus resides in the fact that the forward car, as well as the remaining cars of the train, may be usedfor 30 carr ing material and it is not necessary to T ernp oy cranes, hoists, or similar expensive machinery for the purpose of handling loads.

I claim w I. In a track laying apparatus, a series of 5. cars, tie carryingtrucks arranged to run along the cars, and an automatlc dumping device carried by the forward end of the front car, the same including an inclined plane, and means for suddenly checking or stopping the trucks upon said inclined plane.

2. In track laying apparatus, a series of cars, auxiliary rails mounted on the cars and forming a trackway, tie carrying trucks ar ranged to travel on said trackway, and an automatic dum ing mechanism arranged at the forward endof the front car, the same including an inclined plane, and means for suddenly checking orstopping the trucks. upon said inclined plane. 4

' 3. In track laying apparatus, a series of cars, an auxiliary trackway arranged on the cars, trucks arranged to travelon said trackway, and a forwardly exten'ding tram form ing a continuation of the trackway, there being an automatic dumping apparatus at the end of the tram, the same including an inclined plane, and means for suddenly checking or stopping the trucks upon said inclined, plane.

4. In'track laying apparatus, aserics of cars, tie carryingtrucks arrangedto run along the cars, a tram extending from the forward end of the front car, an auxiliary trackwayextending aver the cars continued-i15 out on-the tram apii terminatingin aninclined l lane, and means for engaging. and sudden y che'eMng'or-stop in the trucks and 'delivering their loads by the momentum of said loads at the end of the tram.

5. In track laying ap aratus, a series of cars, a tram extending forwardly-from the front car, detachable truss rods forminga support for the tram, an auxiliary trackway running over the cars and terminating in the tram, at the forward end of the front car, the

being downwardly inclined, tie carrying trucks arranged to travel on the tra'ckway, stops for limiting the movement of the trucks, and delivery 1, 0

cars hayinglaterally. extended platform sec- -one of the side extensions of the platform, tie

' in part en rollers, on to which the ties pass from the trucks through acquired I11011le-I1GtKT- 6. In track laying apparatus, a series pf cars, adetachable train supported at the fer ward and of the front car, auxiliary rails run l ning over the cars and extended out on the tram, the outer ends of the rails being downwardly inclined, tie carrying trucks arranged. to travel on said trackway, truck stops at the ends of the inclined rails, bea1ns supported at the end of the tram, and tie receiving rollers inounted between the beams and arranged to receive the load of the trucks.

7. In track laying apparatus, aseries of cars, a frame arranged at the forward end of the front car, a detachable tram extending forwardlyof the front car, truss rods extending over the frame and supporting the tram,

said rods being formed of detachable sections, an auxiliary trackway' extending over the cars and tram, .tie carrying trucks arranged to travel over the auxiliary trackway, and an automatic dumping means arranged at the delivery end of the tram, the same including an inclined plane, and means for suddenly checking or stopping the trucks upon said inclined plane.

.8'. In track laying apparatus,fa train of tions, an auxiliary'track in part supported by cartying trucks arranged to travel on said auxiliary trading-Wand rail delivery rollers ported by he extended portion'of the car p atforni at the opposite side of the ear.

9. In track laying apparatus, a train of cars provided at one slde with auxiliary and at the op osite side with dollies for facilirating the de ivory of rails.

10. In track laying apparatus, a train of cars, a tram at the forward end of the front oar, said tram being extended approximately a rail length in advance of the car, an auxiliary track extending over the cars and tram, tie carrying trucksarranged to travel on said trackway, and a series of rail doll terminating at the forward end of the front car. I

11. In track laying ap aratus. a train of cars, a train in adi'auce o the forward car of v the train, an auxiliary track extending over the car and train, a siding arranged on the forward car, and tie carrying true s arranged to travel over the trackway' to the end of the tram, and thence to return over. the siding.

12. In track laying apparatus, a series of cars, a plurality of spaced blocks supported, at one side of the cars, and rail (lollies, each comprising a rectangular frame adated to fit o er the blocks, and a COIlC-SLVEL roller j ournaled in the frame.

13. In track laying apparatus,'a series '0 cars, a series of projecting blocks extending along, one side of the cars, and rail dollies detachably connected'to the block and each -co1 npris-ing a metallic frame shaped to com form to the contour of the block to which it is to he attached, and aconcavedrail carr'y in rollerjournaled in said frame.

. n testilnony'whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. DRUMMOND. Witnesses: v

SruAn'r H. TAYLOR, C. M. HILL. 

